Investigating the printing techniques and light sensitivity of the Tyler Graphics Bag by Frank Stella

The Tyler Graphics Bag (1984), named for master printer Kenneth Tyler (b. 1913), was designed by artist Frank Stella (1936–2024) and printed as a limited-edition shopping bag commissioned by Dayton’s department store to promote the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. The pigments and printing processes used for the bag were investigated, and analyses included optical microscopy, multispectral imaging (MSI), Raman spectroscopy, and large-area micro-X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanning. The findings suggest a photomechanical color-separation printing process using commercial colorants. Further investigation of the media and support with micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (µ-FTIR) identified energy-curable epoxy acrylate ink on bleached Kraft paper. Microfade testing (MFT) additionally indicated that some industrial works on paper could be as lightfast as bespoke ones. Archival research reveals that Stella and Tyler Graphics created working proofs that seem to be earlier iterations of the final design; however, these findings confirm that the Tyler Graphics Bag was printed industrially.